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Post by jbone on Apr 30, 2013 23:38:24 GMT -5
I'm looking for small games I can play with Juno to build up her handler focus. We already do the core attention work, rewarding for looking at me or checking in with me when working on our leash manners, stuff like that. Her greatest weakness is a lack of focus so I want to do more for her.
Does anyone have any fun games or activities they can recommend to build her attention some more?
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Post by RealPitBull on May 1, 2013 7:03:32 GMT -5
How random and suprising are you? Chucking cookies when least expected is the best way to build focus.
Randomly breaking off into a fun game (tug, fetch).....
Going back to basics with the attention stuff you are working on right now, breaking everything down into teeny tiny steps.
Do you do name recognition? (Name-click/or 'yes'-treat)
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Post by jbone on May 1, 2013 9:22:15 GMT -5
How random and suprising are you? Chucking cookies when least expected is the best way to build focus. Randomly breaking off into a fun game (tug, fetch)..... Going back to basics with the attention stuff you are working on right now, breaking everything down into teeny tiny steps. Do you do name recognition? (Name-click/or 'yes'-treat) Why would I be random and surprising? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? We still do name recognition stuff. I like the cookie chucking. I'll see how that works. Do you do it indoors and outdoors? |
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Post by RealPitBull on May 1, 2013 9:25:52 GMT -5
Random and suprising makes you more interesting to the dog. When the dog is having a hard time paying attention, it's because the human isn't the most interesting thing in the room.  I'll give you an example: when I'm teaching heel, and the dog starts getting laggy, or has a wandering mind, I'll wait until the dog gives me even a little attention in the proper position then break with an "OK! YAY!" and whip out a tug toy. That makes you really spontaneous and fun in the dog's eyes. It's also a really good reward for attention. |
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Post by jbone on May 1, 2013 9:36:11 GMT -5
Random and suprising makes you more interesting to the dog. When the dog is having a hard time paying attention, it's because the human isn't the most interesting thing in the room. I'll give you an example: when I'm teaching heel, and the dog starts getting laggy, or has a wandering mind, I'll wait until the dog gives me even a little attention in the proper position then break with an "OK! YAY!" and whip out a tug toy. That makes you really spontaneous and fun in the dog's eyes. It's also a really good reward for attention. Oh derp. I totally miss read that comment. lol read it as how random and surprising are YOU? Instead of how random and surprising ARE you? I try to do stuff like that especially since some times it's the only way to get her attention. Just as a bit of background we are coming off of heartworm treatment (she came to me positive) so when she is outside she gets so focused on the world because she hasn't seen it in quite some time. We went for the longer treatment protocol since she was moderately symptomatic so she was restricted for around 150 days. It's like she has never been outside before. And just because my daughter is pestering me to pick a smilie: 8DYeah, she went there...she thinks he's "cute" |
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Post by RealPitBull on May 1, 2013 9:39:15 GMT -5
Are you familiar with Premack? You could use her interest in the world around her as a reward for attention. She gives you attention, you let her break and go smell a tree or a shrub, or whatever it is she's looking at/wants to get to.
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Post by jbone on May 1, 2013 9:43:46 GMT -5
I am familiar with Premack but never thought to utilize it that way. I like it.
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Post by RealPitBull on May 1, 2013 9:47:59 GMT -5
Try it out, it works great!  |
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I look forward to learning much here